Alphecca, by Jeff Soyer

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 24 May 2013 08:18 am

Don’t Start Trusting Your Life to a 3D Plastic Printed Gun Just Yet

Schipione offered this advice after the Force’s ballistics team acquired a 3D printer, downloaded plans for the Liberator and assembled a pair of the pistols.

One, when fired into a resin block said to simulate human flesh, is said to have penetrated to a depth of 17 fatal-injury-inducing centimetres.

The other one? It blew up.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security is in a tizzy over these newfangled guns.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 22 May 2013 09:38 am

Holographic Sights

Great website that’s all about holographic sights: Holographic Sight Guide.

Learn how to get the most from them. Read reviews of them. Check it out.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 09 May 2013 07:13 am

3D Gun Plans Downloaded Over 100,000 Times

From Tech2:

Remember the world’s first 3D-printed gun that surfaced last week? You’d better, because soon it could be everywhere.

The blueprints for this fully 3D-printable gun, the Liberator, have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. The files for the 3D print, released by makers Defense Distributed, have turned out to be several times more popular than anything else the group has previously released to the public. “This has definitely been our most well-received download,” Haroon Khalid, a developer, was quoted as saying by Forbes. “I don’t think any of us predicted it would be this much.”

Cool beans. Of course, how many of those who downloaded the file actually have access to a 3D printer?

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 04 May 2013 09:09 am

Smith & Wesson’s New M&P 10 Chambered in .308

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 04 May 2013 08:56 am

Ted Cruz at the NRA Convention

Yeah, I actually drove to work this morning just so I had internet access and could post these videos for you from the NRA Bash in Houston.

Gun Stuff and HistoryJeff Soyer on 03 May 2013 10:26 am

Smithsonian’s National Firearms Collection Headed to Wyoming

Starting tomorrow, May 4th, and running for two weeks, a very fine collection of historical firearms will be on display at The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody. Included in the collection:

Photo Credit:
Catherine the Great’s Russian Jaeger Flintlock Rifle, ca. 1730. Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center. L.373.2012.52

Maker: Permajakov; Russia
Caliber: .50
Date: c. 1730
Catalog Number: L.373.2012.52
This rifle was made for Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia.

Photo Credit:
Thomas Jefferson’s North African Miquelet Jezail (Musket), 1789. Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center. L.373.2012.11

Maker: Muhammad; Montenegro
Caliber: .69
Date: 1789
Catalog Number: L.373.2012.11
Ambassador of the Bey of Tunisia, Siddi Suliman Mella, gave this musket to President Thomas Jefferson in 1805. It marked the conclusion of the Tripolitan Wars. This gift influenced the inclusion of the lyrics “to the shores of Tripoli” in the Marine’s Hymn.

Photo Credit:
Miniature Gatling gun patent model no. 36836, November 4, 1862. Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center. L.373.2012.51

Maker: Richard Jordan Gatling; Hertford County, NC
Patent Number: 36836
Patent Date: 4 November 1862
Catalog Number: L.373.2012.51
Patent Model:
This patent is a miniature wooden prototype of Richard Gatling’s original design for his Gatling Gun.
Production Model:
The Miles Greenwood Foundry and Machine Works of Cincinnati, OH made the first six Gatling Guns, but they were destroyed by a fire. The Cooper Firearms Manufacturing Company, in Philadelphia, PA improved this patent model from 1865 through 1866.

Photo Credit:
John S. Holler German multi-bladed folding knife with 100 “blades,” including a .22 caliber pistol, ca. 1880. Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center. L.373.2012.5

Maker: John S. Holler; Germany
Caliber: 100 “blades”; .22 pinfire revolver (5 shot)
Date: c. 1880
Catalog Number: L.373.2012.5
This folding knife was created by the Holler Firm in Germany to be displayed in a store window in New York City. Can you spot the cigar cutter, button hook, tuning fork, pencils, or even the .22 caliber revolver? The only feature not included in this folding knife is the crown bottle cap opener, featured on Swiss Army knives today, that was not invented until 1892.

And much more. Wish I could go. If you’re in the area, you should.

Alas, for this blog format, I had to shrink them way down in size and much of the resolution of the original tiff’s goes missing.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 30 Apr 2013 09:15 am

Sturm Ruger Reports Record Sales

Shareholders were heard to chant, “Thank God for the Democrats!” From the Hartford Courant:

Gunmaker Sturm Ruger & Co. Inc. reported record quarterly sales after fears of new gun controls spurred demand, and the company said it was scouting for a third factory to boost production.

Shares of the Southport-based company rose about 8 percent in extended trade.

Sales jumped about 39 percent to $155.9 million in the first quarter from a year earlier. It rose 10 percent from the fourth quarter.

I wonder what all those crunchy-granola liberal investors and “socially responsible” investment fund managers are thinking, now?

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 22 Apr 2013 08:56 am

Mossberg Considers Leaving CT Over Governor’s Remarks

A couple of weeks ago Connecticut Governor Malloy claimed that gun manufacturers just want to sell as many guns as they can and don’t care who buys them, even if the buyer is mentally ill or deranged. Officials of Mossberg & Sons have responded with anger:

“To set the record straight, our company and our employees have gone on record at public hearings and with our elected legislators as stating that the single biggest thing this state can do to stop the criminal misuse of firearms is to prevent access to firearms by prohibited or other at-risk individuals,” said the attorney, Joseph Bartozzi, in the letter to the government, the Los Angeles Times reported. Mr. Malloy’s comments “came across as insulting and slanderous to our employees … and appear to be politically motivated.”

The governor, the Los Angeles Times reported, isn’t apologizing, and Mossberg manufacturing is considering an exit from the state, Mr. Bartozzi said.

As has been noted by many a blogger and state reps, there are plenty of states that would welcome the company, its products, and the jobs and tax revenues it would bring.

Gun Stuff and PetsJeff Soyer on 11 Apr 2013 06:30 am

Gifting My .22 to Gracie

Nobody knows what the outcome will be over the background checks bill about to be voted on today in the Senate. The worst case scenario is that the Democrats’ bill will pass. That makes it illegal to transfer a gun to anyone else except a spouse or child — and even those must be recorded as gifts — without a background check taking place. And, if the worst happens, when would it take effect?

See, I’m not sure that Gracie could pass a background check. She’s done some killing in her time. Granted, it’s been field mice that found their way into my home, but again, who knows what the feds will come up with . . .

So, while I consider Gracie to be part of the family, the government might not. Since my other cats had their own guns, I thought it was time for her to have one. Not a big one with recoil. Just one she could use to more easily catch rodents.

Therefore, as the memory of the internet is my witness, last night I transferred my 10/22 to her, along with a couple extra magazines and a box of ammo.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 09 Apr 2013 04:40 am

Quality Arms: No Sales or Service to Infringing Agencies

Idaho based Quality Arms is letting everyone know what they think about the push for more gun control. From the Idaho State Journal:

The company’s website warns prospective buyers that they will not sell firearms or provide service for firearms to any state, county or municipality that infringes on their citizen’s Second Amendment right to bear arms.

Good for them.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 13 Mar 2013 06:11 am

Do It For The Kids

A baseball league in Illinois is raffling off an AR-15. From KFVS 12 TV:

The Atwood-Hammond league raised just $10 with a raffle last year for more conventional prizes. According to WAND-TV in Decatur, a local gun shop provided the league with the AR-15 to raffle this year. Atwood and Hammond are small towns about 25 miles southwest of Champaign.

I suspect they’ll raise a heck-of-a-lot more money this year.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 18 Feb 2013 02:46 pm

Grizzly Targets: Reactive Auto Reset 220

I was tempted to title this post, “Hunka-hunka burning lead” for those of you into steel target shooting. The Grizzly Targets Auto-Reset 220 is one massive piece of steel that will stand-up to full-time target shooting regardless of what caliber you’re firing at it. It’s that well made and should last a lifetime unless you’re firing grenades at it! Even then. . . .

I’m thankful to the folks at Grizzly Targets for sending me one to try out. I was going to wait until I actually had it at the range but, in Vermont, that would be several months from now. I’ll do a range report as soon as my range (an outdoor one) reopens.

But, I’d like you to see some of the details now and, besides, you don’t need to see a video of me showing how inept I am . . . [You’re too humble -ed.]

Here’s a snap of it in my living room:

The rounded section in the middle of the target is perfect for those small round black, stick-on targets that show a day-glow color when hit.

Hit it and the target flaps back and then springs up again. It’s perfect for long-distance target shooting and sighting in since you can actually see the target react when you hit it.

Here’s a picture of the ultra-heavy-duty spring-back mechanism:

I think the bolt they’re using is thicker than the engine mount bolts in my car!

Grizzly Targets uses the thickest steel I’ve ever seen in one of these devices. I’m not sure exactly what standard AR500 is in the metal industry but check this out:

Notice the dime I placed on the base. The steel target is almost as thick as a dime is wide! This baby is going to last you a lifetime and the price is a very reasonable $135. that’s for a product that will give you a whole lot of pleasurable plinking and will last decades longer than your car.

Grizzly Targets has a full range of steel targets to suit your needs. A couple of months from now I’ll put up a post of this one, the GT Reactive Auto Reset 220 with “Action Photos”!!!

A great product for the firearms enthusiast. Also note that a part of every purchase is donated to several very worthwhile organizations.

Remember to always practice steel target shooting at a safe distance and - for goodness sake! - you and everyone around should be wearing shatter-proof eye protection.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 01 Feb 2013 04:44 am

Golfing With Guns

It’s the latest thing at a large sporting clay range in Las Vegas:

The $3 million, “five-star” sporting clay course, located 25 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip at the Clark County Shooting Complex, offers 30 different shooting [courses?] across 75 acres of land. The sport more commonly known as “golfing with guns” offers experienced shooters a chance to test out their skills.

Video at the link.

And, I’m glad I’m not the only one who uses a pump gun for clays. I use a Mossberg Turkey Thug, though depending upon how I’m shooting that day, I’ll change the XX-Turkey choke for one a bit less, er, focused.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 25 Jan 2013 08:37 pm

Presidents and Their Guns

From, of all places, Mother Jones. Bonus: Not a slideshow.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 03 Jan 2013 04:37 am

Not News

There was a big increase in gun sales last year.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 02 Jan 2013 04:47 am

Company Offering Safe Bullets

From Fox News:

Executives with a Boise-based company are poised to begin marketing a new type of ammunition specifically for law enforcement teams and designed to avoid causing serious or fatal injuries to their targets and bystanders.

The technology was created at Integrity Ballistics LLC, a company that has spent more than 10 developing and testing a round that resembles a shotgun shell. The round fires a synthetic ball that flattens upon impact and is intended to stun or subdue the target and the plan is to make it available only to law enforcement.

Aren’t there already things such as rubber bullets on the market?

I could also see the gun control crowd passing legislation that says that this is the only kind of handgun ammo that can be sold to civilians. Okay, you can keep your defensive handguns but you must stun the attacker and then wait for the police.

Gun StuffJeff Soyer on 13 Dec 2012 04:50 am

$1,000 Dollar Gun Collection

Gun bloggers often ask, “If you could only have one (or two) guns . . .”

From TMZ:

Sarah Palin’s son Track is loaded … TMZ has learned … saying goodbye to his marriage with his most prized possessions in hand … guns.

Track Palin and his soon-to-be ex-wife Britta filed divorce docs which tick off who gets what.

– 23-year-old Track — an Army reservist — gets the $30,000 Wells Fargo bank account, $500 in tools, and his $1,000 gun collection.

Even buying them used, $1,000 doesn’t go far towards building much of a collection. A couple of hunting rifles and a shotgun? A decent hunting rifle and a reliable handgun?

Might be an interesting exercise; instead of limiting yourself in the number of firearms you own, speculating on what would you would own if you only had one grand to spend?

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